Addu City Council has voted to suspend cooperating with the government until President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik agrees to hold early elections, Mayor Abdullah Sodiq has confirmed.
The council’s decision to suspend ties with the government comes just hours before Dr Waheed flew to the isolated Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) stronghold on Sunday morning, in his first tour of Addu and Fuvamulah since taking office.
Speaking to Minivan News, Sodiq observed that six members of the city council, compromising all MDP members, boycotted Dr Waheed’s arrival reception at the Gan International Airport adding that “we do not believe Waheed is the legitimate president of our nation.”
Sodiq explained that the councillors had unanimously agreed in a meeting on Saturday night that Dr Waheed “came to power in a coup d’état” – which is said to have forced his predecessor Mohamed Nasheed, elected in 2008, to resign on February 7.
“The councillors decided the current government is illegitimate and called on Dr Waheed to announce early elections in order to revert to a constitutional government elected by the people,” Sodiq explained.
“We have also decided not cooperate with the government until Dr Waheed agrees to hold early elections,” Sodiq added.
Furthermore, referring to the fiery protests that gripped Addu city on February 8 during which police and public property was torched and vandalised, Sodiq asked “How can we work with the authorities who deliberately defamed the council by blaming us for the destruction?”
“Several MDP members and councillors were arrested and beaten up. I was beaten up,” he added, restating that it was “part of a conspiracy to inflict hatred towards MDP” by blaming the party for acts of vandalism.
Asked whether the decision would prompt actions against the council, the mayor responded that the council is “ready to face the challenges”.
“Yes, we will possibly face action from the government. But the council will attempt to deliver its responsibilities unhindered. Mostly, we might face financial obstacles. Salaries and bill payments might be halted by the ministry. But we are ready to face the challenges” Sodiq said.
However, Dr Waheed’s spokesperson Masood Imad today dismissed the mayor’s remarks claiming that the council is “very cooperative” and the government has not been notified of any such decision.
“He [the mayor] might be joking with you. Because [the councillors] are very cooperative and all the arrangements here [in Addu] have been made perfectly,” Imad claimed.
According to reports, Dr Waheed had been “warmly welcomed” by Addu residents, while police and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) were seen maintaining the security as pockets of MDP supporters took to the streets calling for Waheed’s resignation and early elections.
Independence remains a sensitive subject for the southern atolls, particularly Addu, which in 1959 led the formation of a short-lived break-away nation called the United Suvadive Republic, together with Huvadhu Atoll and Fuvahmulah.
This was crushed in 1962 when Thinadhoo was destroyed on the orders of then-President Ibrahim Nasir, and the island of 4800 depopulated.
MDP supporters protest against Waheed:
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This Man Waheed is a heartless person. Behind tight police and military personal, he will have to operate. He will have to reborn again, even to follow and walk a single step which President Nasheed has walked. Great human beings don't pop up in overnight. The citizens of Addu love President Nasheed, and we all hate this man waheed for his brutality forever. We really apreciate what you are doing Nasheed. We want Elections now.
Whether or not the Addu Council is cooperative to this government does not alter its illegitimacy. Dr Waheed cannot claim the legitimate leader since he succeeded following the elected president's ouster in a coup.
The circumstances surrounding the resignation of president Nasheed suggest he resigned under undue pressure. Later, one of the coup leaders told a rally of the so-called coalition of all minority opposition parties some of which are not even represented in the parliament that he had threatened Nasheed lose of life or resign.
Forced resignation cannot be valid under the constitution which says that the president could resign if he ‘wants to’ but not if he ‘had to’.
Dear All Maldivians,
Please may I kindly urge you all to cooperate and save our beloved nation? Do not try to make division between us. If we make any bad decision now we are hurting ourselves and generations to come. I do not want any bad to happen for our children and generations to come. This land is not only for the present generation. We all have to agree on it.
Those have any love in their hearts will not harm us as a whole. I urge all political, religious leaders and all other common people to come together to stop the damage that we all are doing to this country. If we are true believers it is time to stop all these hatred among us. We as common people and Muslims, we are not heading towards to the peace but for the division and hatred among us. Please do not behave and act like animals. This will demolish all what we have achieved for up to date or otherwise our future will be dark.
I want make it clear, it is time to set a date of election in 2012 or it is time for us to kill each other. This is the two choices we have! Please make right decision!!!!
For all the parties, its leaders and supporters!!! None of you have any rights to harm the population of this country. Support for an election try to bring peace to the nation. We will support whoever wins the election and whoever becomes a president no matter which color or which party it becomes. The solution is to call for an election in 2012.It what the majority of Maldivians are crying for!!!!If not, we all can see where we are heading!!!
“Early Election in 2012”International community is urging for it. The whole world is calling for it. I urge the international community and the whole world to stand with us and make your words stronger before it’s too late. Time is running out!!!!!
May Allah bless all of us.
What is wrong with these people. Can you decide on which route you are taking. If the Government it illegitimate there can't be an election, President Nasheed has to be reinstated, and those responsible punished. Since Addu Council has passed a resolution where all councilors have agreed that what transpired on February 7th was a coup d’état, I would advice them to go to court and get it declared as such. I am confident they would not have agreed as such without substantial proof.
Election time!!! NOW.
The vast majority of the people of Addu do not believe that Waheed is our President. He is an imposter who has been put in place by those who feared a democratic and just society.
Independence might be a "sensitive" subject, but we will not let a government to be an imposed upon us! The longer Waheed lingers on the more division and hatred he will create.
There is only one way forward to save the country. Waheed should resign immediately and hand over power to the Speaker. The people will decide the next President in an election.
Oh, yes, ML. Courts are the answer. We all know that.
Pathetic MDP supporters plz wake up..Your boses Nasheed, Maria and reecko moosa has stolen million of dollars from state coffers..There are corrupt to the core...Why do u listen to drunk liar..:-s..i feel so sad, i worry about the future of our country why do u want to let a gang of corrupt ruthless drunks run our country.
If Addu City council does not believe in the legitimacy of this govt, then Addu city council should not accept the salary that this govt pays them. THeir salary comes from the Ministry of Finance and treasury, and Addu city council should not accept the salary that the Finance Minister (who has been appointed by the new president) pays them. I call on Addy city council to stand by their words and show the new president and his govt the sincerity of their words, by not accepting a single rufiyaa paid by this Govt.
An investigation is more important than an election.
The investigation would decide whether President Nasheed's resignation had any issues that would prove the illegitimacy of the current government.
An investigation would declare whether President Nasheed can participate in the upcoming elections? why because he had made decision against the constitution by arresting a judge disregarding the proper procedures of doing such an act and his claim to be the King of the country.
It is to be investigated whether he had ordered MNDF to use live bullets against police officers that were protesting.
It is to be investigated whether President Nasheed's behavior and attitude is fit for a president of this country given the pending investigation in regard to the not-so-mini bar found at his palace.
This bedroom-run-blog operated by the family of President Nasheed doesn't really reflect the demands of the public but rather the demands of President Nasheed and his supporter's who are actually the people (and their families) that would be loosing their high paid jobs due the change in government.
@Nars, Why do you want to let a group of gangsters like Yamin, Gasim, Thasmeen, Maumoon and their allies run our country? Why don't you wake up first, why don't you see the millions and millions of dollars that Maumoon, Gasim, Yamin and Thasmeen has stolen from us? And they had 30 years to do all the stealing. Why do you listen to these murderers and terrorists?
@Elapse
A not so mini-bar, lol, well said, Nasheed should blame it on Ziyad as his name was on a lot of the packaging, a lil tip for you, free of charge 😉
MDP atleast their faction in Addu Atoll is a terrorist organisation.A big threat to national security,freedom n equality of the people.Democracy is not for terrosits!!!they shud be prosecuted and convicted immediately for the violence and spread of terror, otherwise this country will never be free because these idiots will resort to their senseless methods whenever they don't have their way!!!
@ML
Court? What court? there are no courts in the Maldives which provide justice.
Let Maumoon return and rule these fools,idiot nation,May all these resorts burn forever ,may all the greedy lot fall into poverty,May Buruma Qasim and his maumoon wealth submerge in the ocean with him,May Yaameen be killed brutally by his own delinquent gang of thugs and murderers,may his whole family get wiped off the face of earth for they are eating yaameen's money with innocent people's blood on it,May Maumoon's whole family perish into oblivion instead of them going off to Singapore,May Maumoon never get a facelift again!!Lastly another tsunami?when are you coming next?Hurry hurry hurry..
Waheed is NOT the president of Maldives. The PRESIDENT IS NASHEED. Waheed 's Supporters MUST be Responsible to the vandalism and damages done. Its So Obvious and clear; that is to opportion the blame on Nasheed Supporters. Everything is like a mirror/ everything visible. Waheed acts like a Mad Dog now. He's on a leash; he cant get free of the wrong he's been part of. He will never have elections until he feels safe; and all opposition to him is squashed. He must be reading these comments too. Waheed is so INSECURE. IT SHOWS.
WHAT A CROOK! WHAT A WAHEED!
@Logic on Sun, 26th Feb 2012 11:43 PM
"If Addu City council does not believe in the legitimacy of this govt, then Addu city council should not accept the salary that this govt pays them."
Look, there is no "logic" to your statement. That money doesn't belong to the "government" or the Finace Minister! It belongs to us, the people of the country. We elect a government to take care of that money and it has to be paid according the laws of the country.
So, the staff of Addu City Council will get paid and have to be paid, since we elected them to serve the people of Addu. As long as they carry out their duties, whoever is in charge of the Finance Ministry has to pay them.
Is that logical enough for you?
Waheed learnt a valuable lesson from Addu tonight. This will be replicated throughout the country. Most citizens do not want to see or have anything to do with this imposter.
After living a life of luxury in the West for years, whilst Maldivians toiled away under a burning tropical sun, with their blood and tears, to bring democracy to the country; this buffoon comes along and now behaves like he owns this place.
Waheed, you should enjoy your short stay in the air-conditioned comfort of your Presidential Palace and Office; for as sure as the sun sets in the west, your stay will be very short lived.
I as a citizen of Maldives apeal to Waheed and his government to take these people down, before another SUVADIBIAN REPUBLIC is declared. Mohamed Nasheed in his recent visit to Addu had a secret meeting with 4 councillors and some senior MDP officials about declaring Addu as an Indpendent State.
Allah gasim ibrahim ah heyo visun devvashi.aameen.
@ Nars
President Nasheed has repeatedly called on people who has been accusing members of his government of corruption to submit those accusations to the Anti Corruption Commission and the Presidential Commission he set up to investigate corruption.
Why then have these allegations not ended up at the ACC or the Presidential Commission set up to investigate corruption? Why have you not taken the allegations you make here to those institutions?
Accusation after accusation, allegation after allegation and hardly any of these ending up in the ACC or the courts. What do you call allegations without evidence? Slander.
But hey, slander seems to be what’s winning the day. A member of the opposition goes on television and accuses the President of bringing Christianity to the country and his political party distributes a pamphlet echoing his allegations in writing.
A month later he is our new Home Minister.
Nars, I believe that if President Nasheed committed any crimes against the people or the law he will not hesitate to take responsibility for his actions. That’s the kind of man he is. If indeed he has violated the law, surely he knows what a dangerous path he is taking. Surely he knows that the opposition will have in safe custody any evidence of wrong doing which they will pull out in an election or when the time is right? ?
Which is why we need to get this investigating going. The least Dr Waheed can do for our people is to clear up the air and get the process going so we can hear the truth about exactly what happened on the 7th February 2012.
But I guess it suits him better if the inquiry does not happen.
http://bigthink.com/ideas/42379
Vote for Waheed and his "Malaysian friend" the Buddist preacher now running our country with Saeed and Jameel.
Addu city and Male' city they are not in different federation. These idiots have no clue on the government structure. I call home minister immediately abolish these rogue councils, no body can be above the law in this land.
@Ahmed bin Addu bin Suvadheeb
If addu city council did the duties they were elected to do, they wouldnt have stood by while the buildings in Addu were torched by activists of their party. There are videos on the internet showing MDP party activists waving MDP flag and throwing stones at Police stations and Addu courts, before setting them on fire. And now Addu city council is acting like they have no clue as to what happened, and like they werent even a part of the MDP protest which resulted in Addu city state buildings being torched. A council elected to serve the interests of the people should not stand by and encourage their party people to commit criminal acts against state buildings, fully aware that their actions will only be to the trajedy of addu citizens.
I still stand by my statement, if Addu council doesnt accept that this government is legitimate then they should not accept the salary that this govt pays them. If i work in a resort, and accuse the resort owners of using counterfeit or gained from criminal activities, then the ethical thing for me to do would be to not accept the money which I know is counterfeit. If i accuse the resort owners of paying me with counterfeit money and then accept the counterfeit notes, then my actions and words do not match. Stand by your words Addu city council. Show the people your sincerity.
Time once again to declare your independance??everything is in place..Do you need Male???
Ahmed bin Addu bin Suvadheeb on Mon, 27th Feb 2012 2:59 AM
'Waheed learnt a valuable lesson from Addu tonight. This will be replicated throughout the country. Most citizens do not want to see or have anything to do with this imposter.'
Man don't incite and spread violence and terror.And who are you to speak on behalf of the people of Addu?I am also an adduan an i wil never 4gv those people who burnt down my atoll..least of all accept the person who caused it as my president ever.
If you are that intelligent as you think yourslef to be- answer this.
On 7th february Mohammed Nasheed resigned as president of the Maldives stating very clealry his reasons in a televised address to the nation..That's it...BEFORE any proper investigation(international or local) or any court ruling supports Nassheed's later claim that he resigned under duress or force his, resignation cannot be overuled and any violence commited by his party against established system is TERRORISM!....Nasheed is a patehetic liar, least of all a prophet for us to blindly trust his word!
Election? MY FOOT!
Waheed COME & Nasheed GO.......
Dr. Waheed needs therapy!
He is simply SICK!
Addu council is taking sides with the Dictator Nasheed. It was the council members who torched down Addu on 8th Feb on the orders of Dictator Nasheed, which cost more than Rf50 million only for the physical damage. After resigning voluntarily from the presidents post Dictator Nasheed is again trying to be back on the seat by hook or crook and addu council members are slaves of him. We saw that the vast majority of Adduans were with President Waheed yesterday. It was only handful of people that were supporting the Dictator Nasheed. We don't want u Dictator Nasheed, the activist. We want Dr. Wahaeed the President.
As a businessman and Maldivian, I have just been turned down from the banks for a loan and my insurance has rocketed - because of the lack of confidence in the new illegal regime.
We had stability recognition for business with Anni in charge. The ACC has found no corruption but just working over time with hundreds of false allocations from anonymous people.
Listen, if the politicians can not sort this out, the banks sure will. ELECTION NOW OR WE ALL DIE.
Addu City Council's decesion will not favour the existing political environment of the country and is not in the best interst of the people of Addu.
These city councils have no right to declare the legitimacy of the federal government. They have no choice but to work with any government which is ruling the country at any moment. If they cannot do it, pack up your stuff and go home. Ta Ta..
confusion. So what do we know here?? Masood Imad says the mayor is joking!! Is this the time for jokes??!!
Coup leaders need to attend anger-management class, cox they dont know how to deal with angry people,also they are trying to let the Maldivian go back to 16th century.
Nasheed and his cult followers are just greedy for power! 3 years was more than enough for him. Male civilians are having sleepless nights because of his followers partying campaigning near raalhugandu...They use foul language all they do is criticize, make fun of the present govt, they are not promising anything better!! Nasheed should be ashamed he was thrown out of power before the full term, what worse can you get...Think!! if he was so good he 'd still be in power!!!